A distribuidora de energia enviou a conta de luz.

Because distribuidora is a feminine noun here, so it takes the feminine article a.

• a distribuidora = the distributor / the utility company
• o distribuidor = the male distributor / the distributor (masculine form)

In this sentence, distribuidora usually refers to a company, and in Brazilian Portuguese many company-type nouns are feminine, especially when the noun itself is feminine.

It means energy distributor or, more naturally in this context, the electric utility company.

Breakdown:

• distribuidora = distributor, distribution company
• de energia = of energy / energy-related

So a distribuidora de energia is the company that supplies electricity to homes and businesses.

Because de energia is being used in a general, descriptive sense: distributor of energy.

• de + noun without article often describes a category or type:
  • conta de luz = electricity bill
  • empresa de tecnologia = technology company
  • distribuidora de energia = energy distributor

If you said da energia, that would usually mean of the energy, referring to some specific energy already mentioned, which is not the idea here.

Conta de luz is a very common Brazilian expression meaning electricity bill.

Literally:

• conta = bill
• de luz = of light

But in everyday Brazilian Portuguese, luz is often used to mean electricity in household contexts.

So:

• conta de luz = electricity bill
• ligar a luz = turn on the light
• cortaram a luz = they cut off the electricity / power

This is one of those expressions where the literal meaning is less important than the standard usage.

Yes. Both are understandable, but they can sound slightly different in tone.

• conta de luz = the most common everyday expression
• conta de energia or conta de energia elétrica = a bit more formal or technical

In normal conversation in Brazil, conta de luz is extremely common.

Portuguese uses definite articles more often than English.

Here, a conta de luz means the electricity bill, referring to a specific bill that was sent.

Portuguese often includes articles before nouns where English may or may not use them:

• enviou a conta = sent the bill
• abriu a porta = opened the door
• lavou o carro = washed the car

So the article a is very natural here.

Enviou is the 3rd person singular of the verb enviar in the pretérito perfeito (simple past).

• enviar = to send
• ele/ela/você enviou = he/she/you sent

In this sentence:

• A distribuidora de energia enviou... = The utility company sent...

This tense is used for a completed action in the past.

In Brazilian Portuguese, enviou is pronounced roughly like en-vyoh.

A helpful breakdown:

• en = like eng without fully pronouncing the g
• vi = like vee
• ou = often sounds like oh

So: en-vee-OH, with the stress on the last syllable.

Because this is the normal Portuguese order:

subject + verb + object

• A distribuidora de energia = subject
• enviou = verb
• a conta de luz = object

This is very similar to standard English word order:

• The utility company sent the electricity bill.

Portuguese can change word order for emphasis, but this sentence uses the most neutral and natural structure.

Because de is extremely common in Portuguese and has many uses. Here it links nouns together.

1. distribuidora de energia
   = distributor of energy / energy distributor

2. conta de luz
   = bill for electricity / electricity bill

In English, these relationships are often expressed by noun-noun compounds:

• energy distributor
• electricity bill

Portuguese usually prefers noun + de + noun in cases like these.

By itself, distribuidora can refer to many types of distributors, not just electricity.

Examples:

• distribuidora de energia = energy utility / power distributor
• distribuidora de alimentos = food distributor
• distribuidora de bebidas = beverage distributor

So the words after distribuidora tell you what kind of distributor it is.

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly.

• a distribuidora de energia = the company responsible for distributing/supplying electricity
• a empresa de energia = energy company, a broader term

Distribuidora is more specific and is a better fit if you mean the utility that sends the bill.

Not always. Literally, luz means light, but in everyday Brazilian Portuguese it often extends to mean electrical power, especially in home-related situations.

Examples:

• acender a luz = turn on the light
• faltou luz = the power went out
• conta de luz = electricity bill

So the exact meaning depends on context. In this sentence, it clearly refers to electricity service, not just physical light.